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I would rate this trip 10 out of 10. I would eagerly do another trip with your fine outfit in the future.
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John Fox, Foraker Expedition

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AMS has their act together  extremely knowledgeable and flexible. Everyone within AMS went out of their way to make sure we had a fun, safe, and successful expedition. I will definitely recommend them to others.
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Matt Barbour, Denali West Buttress

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The guides MADE the trip. The route was great, but the guides made it spectacular.
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Steve Gabbert, Denali Upper West Rib

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The trip was so much fun that reaching the summit was reduced to being the cherry on the pie.
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Wim Smets, Denali West Buttress

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Mt. Foraker Sultana Ridge Expedition

Mount Foraker, is Denali National Park's second highest mountain and sixth highest in North America. Located 8 miles from Denali, it rises above the Kahiltna Glacier like a towering cathedral. Foraker, by any route, is a formidable mountaineering challenge of the highest caliber. AMS chooses to climb the Sultana Ridge over other routes for its aesthetic appeal but also to avoid exposure to hanging avalanches; the Sultana Ridge is a worthy objective for a seasoned Alaska Range climber. To gain access to the Sultana Ridge, we first climb the Southeast Ridge of Mt. Crosson, which is a good climb in itself. A rise on the backside of Crosson is then climbed before traversing 1.5 miles on a classic, double-corniced ridge to the base of the Sultana Ridge proper.

There are unique qualities inherent in Alaska's arctic environment, such as temperature, wind, and snow pack, which create climbing conditions unlike any other mountains in the world. Alaska Grade III is given to the Sultana because of its high altitude, exposure, cornicing, crevasses and sustained climbing. Foraker is a difficult mountain to climb and demands all the strength, commitment, and mountaineering savvy one could expect from such a classic Alaskan big mountain.

You are responsible for: Arriving with excellent physical and mental fitness, transportation to and from Talkeetna, lodging in Talkeetna, personal equipment and clothing, rental items from AMS, travel and medical insurance, gratuities.

HISTORY

Sultana, which means "woman" or "wife" (of Denali) is the Tanaina name for Mt. Foraker. In March 1979, Brian Okonek, Roger Cowles, and Dave Johnston made the first ascent of the Sultana which was also the second winter ascent of Mount Foraker. Rising above the Kahiltna Glacier, the Sultana is an awesome sight from anywhere on the West Buttress route.

WEATHER

It is said that the greatest challenge of an Alaska mountaineering expedition is not the climbing, but the storms. Unlike most of the world's highest mountains, Mt. Foraker is 200 miles south of the Artic Circle at 63° North Latitude. Its location on the planet places it in the sub-artic and 35° north of Everest, the same latitude as northern Hudson Bay and central Scandinavia. The average climate around Foraker's summit is probably more severe than any spot on earth. The weather on Foraker will dictate our every move. It will force us to be flexible, patient, and spontaneous. Weather is one thing we cannot change, but we work with it.

ACCLIMATIZATION

AMS' expedition climbing strategy is concerned with giving everyone the best chance to acclimate to a lower oxygen environment. Foraker does not pose as big a threat as Denali for altitude-related problems due to its lower elevation at 17,400 feet, but altitude-related illnesses are still a major concern. Different strategies to accelerate acclimatization, such as climbing high and sleeping low, will be used. AMS expeditions carry a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen saturation levels and prescription drugs to treat life-threatening conditions. Advanced signs or symptoms of pulmonary and/or cerebral edema are serious, life-threatening conditions that require immediate descent. Each year AMS is briefed by our medical director Dr. Peter Hackett, who pioneered high altitude medical research on Denali, on any advancements in the research, prevention, and treatment of altitude-related illnesses. Our training supervisor Lance Taysom, a life-flight nurse and Park Service mountaineering VIP, certifies AMS instructors in wilderness emergency medicine. Together they wrote our medical protocols and standing orders that allow AMS instructors to evaluate and treat within the scope of their Wilderness First Responder training. Guides teach classes on altitude illnesses, discuss the use of Diamox and touch base with everyone individually, but your self-monitoring is paramount to early detection.

TRAINING

All applicants must adopt a goal of being in excellent physical condition at the start of the expedition. Please don't show up sick, injured, or out-of-shape. On any mountaineering expedition, some factors are completely out of anyone's control, namely weather and individual acclimatization rates. By joining a professionally run expedition, you leave expedition logistics, food, equipment and leadership to us. You are responsible for and have control over your physical fitness and climbing ability. It is imperative that everyone joining our expeditions be physically fit when the expedition begins. The better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy the climb, the safer it will be for you, and the better chance for summiting. The more climbing experience you have prior to the climb, the more comfortable you will be on Foraker.

EQUIPMENT

Foraker is not the mountain on which you can "just get by" with mediocre equipment. Your gear will be put to the ultimate test. A carefully planned layering system will be more comfortable, efficient, lightweight, and hold up. "Quality" does not necessarily mean "expensive"; a trip to the Army surplus store often turns up many of the basics. Carefully read the equipment list written for this expedition; it answers most questions and gives recommendations for particular items. Try to have equipment questions answered by a knowledgeable salesperson in a local climbing store; they are often the most informed about the pros and cons of a particular brand or style. Please wait until the morning of the first day to check equipment at AMS, as we are busy preparing for the expedition a full three days before day one of the climb. Your guides will insure you are properly outfitted before you go.

FOOD

AMS provides nearly all of the food for this expedition. To ensure satisfaction, we ask that you bring some of your preferred hot and cold drinks and four pounds of your favorite trail lunch or snack food to supplement the choices you have from the AMS rations. Part of this food will be saved for summit day. More information on food is provided on the expedition food sheet. Please contact us if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.

THE CLIMB

We climb the Sultana Ridge of Mt. Foraker in a combination of expedition and alpine styles. We will climb expedition style, ferrying loads until establishing ourselves at the base of the Sultana Ridge. The first camp on the ridge will be made in a single move and be our high camp. The extra time built in is to accommodate for bad weather or conditions that might require a third camp on the ridge.

AMS' approach to guided climbs falls in line with our mission as a school of mountaineering. Mt. Foraker's summit is a logical end goal, but we will focus on the means of getting there, pushing every day to increase our mountaineering skills and performance. We expect all members to share a goal of becoming better climbers on our expeditions.

ITINERARY

Weather and snow conditions will ultimately determine our progress on the mountain. This itinerary is a rough guide and outlines the anticipated schedule. Our style on the mountain is flexible and will fluctuate on a 24 hour basis.